GE Introduced the Three Star oscillator in 1914 and it ran for about two years. However around 1916 apparently GE decided that the third star was a cost not worth spending so they replaced the brass star shaped set screw at the neck of the oscillation loop with a cast iron thumb knob, creating the Two Star oscillator. For all practical purposes these two fans are the same fan, but us fanners like to call them Two Stars and Three Stars.
This six-blade variant is known as category number 78777 which was a designator kept through various different models, as early as round backs and collar oscillators. 78777 means a 12", six-blade oscillating fan in GE speak.
Being a nearly perfect original condition fan, I felt the best way to move forward with it was a proper White Gloves preservation: The entire fan was disassembled. The windings were removed and cleaned within an ultrasonic cleaner in mineral spirits, they were then varnished and baked. The paint parts were cleaned thoroughly then polished using Josh Backens' White Gloves method described here: How to Make that Old Paint Shine! After all of these steps the fan was carefully put back together with a new head wire and line cord.
You will notice that the brass on this fan was left completely untouched. Being that the cage had all of its original paint and the brass blades had a unique and even patina, I felt leaving the brass was the best option for this fan.
Hope you like it!
